What color would Americans call this cat?

trocadero

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Oct 4, 2008
Messages
650
Reaction score
66
Location
Hong Kong
Website
carolynwoulfe.livejournal.com
NOTE: Thanks everyone, I've found out what I needed. No need for further replies unless you really want to.

One of my stories includes a cat with orange and brown fur. In Australia, we call it a ginger cat, but some of my American friends say most people in the US would say 'orange cat'. I'm also wondering if the whole 'gingers have no souls' thing has increased the use of the term 'ginger' in the US.

To me, 'ginger cat' is more evocative than 'orange cat', but I'm drawing on a lifetime of use of the term.

Here's an example of the type of cat I'm talking about: http://awwyeahgingercats.tumblr.com/

What do you think, people of America? Is 'ginger cat' okay for a picture book? Or is it too foreign?

PS. I know gingers have beautiful souls.
 
Last edited:

Hamilton

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 10, 2012
Messages
243
Reaction score
45
Location
NJ
Hmm.

Well, here's a chart of cat colors that might be useful for reference. It lists ginger as being the equivalent of red or orange.
 
Last edited:

alleycat

Still around
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 18, 2005
Messages
72,873
Reaction score
12,224
Location
Tennessee
I think most Americans would call it an orange tabby. That would probably be more typical than just calling it an orange cat.
 

alleycat

Still around
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 18, 2005
Messages
72,873
Reaction score
12,224
Location
Tennessee
Ginger-colored is sometimes use to describe a person's hair color. A "ginger-colored cat" could work for most Americans, I think.
 

auriel

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Oct 28, 2011
Messages
162
Reaction score
22
Location
Huntsville
I agree with everybody else - I'd call it an orange tabby, but calling it ginger-colored would be understood, I think. And even if kids don't know it, if it's for a picture book, then I think the kids would understand by seeing the cat. And they'd learn another word for red hair :)
 

Hamilton

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 10, 2012
Messages
243
Reaction score
45
Location
NJ
After racking my brains for a bit, I can't say I've heard cats like that referred to as ginger commonly.

However, if it's a picture book that will include an illustration of the cat, specific terminology might not be a big deal. People will still 'get' the meaning.
 

shadowwalker

empty-nester!
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 8, 2010
Messages
5,601
Reaction score
598
Location
SE Minnesota
Yeah, we'd call it an orange tabby, but ginger cat would be understood, I'm sure.
 

bethany

:)
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 27, 2007
Messages
9,013
Reaction score
3,057
Location
Room two-hundred-something on the first floor
Website
www.bethanygriffin.com
I had an orange tabby named Ginger, and my vet actually informed me that in England they refer to people with red hair as ginger colored. I was like, really? Because obviously I named my orange tabby Ginger for unrelated reasons...:D We actually called him Ginger Kitten and it stuck...
 

sunandshadow

Impractical Fantasy Animal
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 17, 2005
Messages
4,827
Reaction score
336
Location
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Website
home.comcast.net
I'd call it a marmelade cat, with orange being second choice and ginger being third choice. I know quite well that ginger is orange, but it's just not a word I'd normally use.
 

alleycat

Still around
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 18, 2005
Messages
72,873
Reaction score
12,224
Location
Tennessee
One thing's for sure, the cat isn't going to come when called no matter what you call him. Unless he just feels like it.
 

Jessianodel

Blessed by the AW Gods
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 18, 2010
Messages
1,241
Reaction score
85
Location
The Control Room
I would call it an orange tabby too. If you called it ginger, I don't know what color I would exactly picture but it wouldn't be an orange tabby.

So...yeah, orange tabby.
 

StephanieFox

Maybull the Bulldog
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Feb 27, 2008
Messages
4,442
Reaction score
636
Location
MPLS
I've only recently heard of red haired people called 'Gingers.' I know what it means but I don't use it either for people or cats. Or dogs.
 

DarthPanda

All hopped up on goofballs.
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 24, 2012
Messages
482
Reaction score
153
Location
Tennessee
My Granny called hers a marmalade cat.

I call mine my ginger gentleman; the vet calls him an orange tabby.

*shrug*

It all works. :D
 

DreamWeaver

Shakespearean Fool
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Apr 11, 2005
Messages
2,916
Reaction score
403
Third vote for marmalade, closely followed by orange tabby. Ginger is understandable, but I wouldn't expect to hear it in American english, at least not in this region. But then, around here I never hear red-haired people called gingers, either, except by one anglophile friend who happens to have red hair.
 

night-flyer

roasting cows
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 12, 2010
Messages
35,204
Reaction score
13,057
Location
Texas
I've heard them mostly called orange tabbys, but marmalade sounds good, too. I don't know anyone that calls them ginger cats. But I'm sure there are several people that do.*shrug*
 

trocadero

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Oct 4, 2008
Messages
650
Reaction score
66
Location
Hong Kong
Website
carolynwoulfe.livejournal.com
Thanks everyone. As an Australian who's been working with lots of Americans for the last five years, I was really surprised to discover this difference. I guess it just never came up. Thanks very much for your help:)